1955-1956 Mercury Montclair Hardtop/Convertible/Phaeton

The 1955-1956 Mercury
Montclair hardtop, convertible, and phaeton are the most collectible offerings -- save the "Plexi-roof" Sun
Valley hardtop coupe -- in Mercury's new-for-'55 premium series, which demoted
the former top-line Monterey to mid-range status. Bright new square-shouldered
styling on an inch-longer wheelbase implied an all-new design, but the '55s and
the even bolder, facelifted '56s were actually artful reskins of Merc's
successful 1952-1954 platform. Mostly evolutionary engineering changes included
factory air as a new '55 option, plus "on-demand" low-gear kickdown
for the extra-cost three-speed Merc-O-Matic Drive (which previously started in
second).

Montclairs
predictably offered Mercury's best trim and most complete standard equipment in
these years. The '55s sported a slim chrome-edged panel just under the beltline
that keyed to roof color with optional two-toning. The '56 "Big M"
story involved larger V-8s with more power, plus new Phaeton hardtop sedans in
all series, which expanded down to near Ford price territory with the addition
of cheap Medalist models.

Growing
collector interest in hardtop sedans is why the Montclair Phaeton is included
here, but also note its Sport Sedan companion with the same raking roofline,
but slim fixed B-pillars, unique to the '56 Montclair line and fairly rare with only 11,765 built.